Word Filled Wednesday

As a mom, I worry about my children. I know I shouldn't, but I catch myself with moments of worry for their little souls. Well, my oldest is not so little anymore (6' 3") and my youngest not so young (9), but I know all you moms out their and dads can understand.

When I detect a bit of worry in my thoughts, the best thing I can do is take that thought captive and give it to Jesus.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

 and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

II Corinthians 10:5

Here is a little something else I do...

I doodle a prayer!

This actually happens to be a doodle prayer for my youngest son Samuel and three of his good friends. They all play football together on the same team. Often, I find myself in "worry mode" over this high contact sport.

I actually put this prayer on my refrigerator so every morning...every time I open the fridge...or pass by it...I am reminded to pray for these little fellows. Sometimes I just repeat one phrase I wrote over and over the entire day. Somehow, God takes my worry away and I rest at peace knowing He is watching over my son and his friends.

Just As I Am

The year was 1977. I was 10 years old as I watched the Billy Graham Crusade one summer evening on television. He gave an alter call to thousands in the stadium that night and one little girl, me, who watched and listened with tear filled eyes. As this song played, “Just As I Am”, hundreds of people stood and walked to center stage to accept the call of a lifetime. Even though God had chosen them long before that evening, they stood to acknowledge their one true friend…Jesus. I also came to this realization that evening, Jesus loved me right where I was at…he always did…and continues to love this childlike tender heart even today. Even though there have been many times in my 33 year journey with Jesus where I walked away from him and sinned until it hurt……. he never walked away from me. He kept me safe in the palm of his hand. And as the potter with clay, molded me into the beautiful woman I am today. I take no credit for who I have become and the things I have achieved, but it is Christ in me the hope of glory! I continue grow in my faith walk even though at times I have conflict, trials, and my sinful nature reminds me I will never be perfect. But every day my Jesus bids me to come…just as I am…he welcomes me and pardons my sin sick human frailties. He also bids you to come and partake of the living water and thirst no more that you also might find joy amidst the questioning, hurt, and anguish. He loves you more than you know…..and you’ll never know until you come to the Lamb of God.

You can never "be" until you "know" Jesus!

Love God's Word

My kitchen table in the morning hours

11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

I John 3:11-24

~

The Bible is God breathed words written by others so we might know the boundaries to live within and it outlines the life of Jesus Christ which gives us the “how to” within the parameters of the law. Yet at the same time, the Word of the Lord is poetry, a book of family heritage, gives us written laws, and speaks in parables. But through the entire book, love resounds a harmonious chord of peace. The Bible helps us to renew our minds and allows us to filter out the lies Satan tells us so we might stand on the great and precious promises given to us by our Heavenly Father.

“Be” in the Word of God and what you “do” will become His agenda and not yours.

Centering

The second step, centering (please click on centering to learn more about centering), I believe can be interchangeable with the first step of prayer in learning how to "be" in the "doing". What is centering prayer you ask? Centering is when a person sits in quietness longing for there human spirit to collide with the divine spirit causing an explosion deep within one's soul. Alright, maybe not a literal explosion, but a burst of fire erupts deep within. The flame of God through His Holy Spirit can not be squelched, love exudes to overflowing, and we begin to show outwardly Christ in us the hope of glory!

Our thoughts become His thoughts and a more thankful heart arises. Our eyes begin to see like they have never seen before. We look at people no matter what color or class with the knowledge that God loves them just as much as He does our self. Our feet become His...our hands an extension of his nail pierced palms...and we set about to do the work God has placed before us. We embark to discover our true self and embrace it. We become very aware of our purpose from the Creator who breathed life into us. This purpose...to serve and not be served and to find and help the lost sheep and lovingly corral them back home to the Great Shepherd. Lastly, the only chains that hold us are the chains we are in to be ambassadors for the sake of Jesus Christ!

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message,

 so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."

Colossians 4:3 (NIV)

Prayer Changes Things

I have told myself and close friends that I need to stand in front of a mirror and practice saying the word “no” aloud. I need to see what it looks like. I need to practice “no” with loving expressions. I need to experience how it feels deep down to say “no”. Why? Because all too often I say yes and commit to “doing” something before I’ve prayed to make sure it’s a task my Heavenly Father desires for me.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

~Philippians 4:6

At times, I have had too many consecutive “yes” tally marks, while the “no” column often has none. This leads to a very unbalanced life of a lot of “doing, “being” is left whistling with its hands in its pockets, and I am a frazzled anxious mess. I’ve been reduced to a sobbing tirade of tears squandering a box of tissues.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

~Matthew 6:33

So, my first step in the process of learning how to “be” in the “doing” is to PRAY! It’s best to “be” in prayer to seek the wise counsel of the Holy Spirit before you “do” anything. Did I just really say that, because…WOW…I fall way short of prayers before everything I “do”. You really can’t “be” in what you “do” unless you take Jesus with you into it. Don’t leave God out from the get go. Pray first, then “do”, and the “be” will follow.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

~John 14:26

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for your patience with my reckless decision making without talking it out with you first. Please help me to remember to seek you first in all my decisions. I want to take the time to sit in prayer and be sure what I’m about to “do” is what you desire and have planned for my life. If I am in your will it will be much easier for me to “be” in your presence while I “do” the work you have put before me.

~Amen

God Smiles

I have many sisters in Christ and I praise God for each and everyone. There are a chosen few of these God loving souls who without a doubt bring me to some of my most honest moments with myself. I realized in one such conversation; I deeply desire to feel needed and be loved. I know…you’re thinking…doesn’t everyone? I would definitely answer a resounding yes, but yet my quest to find love and be needed is a gut wrenching thirst that at times has seemed unquenchable.

Lately, I must admit I have not found myself missing love or yearning to be needed. I sense a peace about my life. It’s been like a deep breath with an everlasting exhale. I realize my only need is to be close to my heavenly Father. I don’t miss out on love, because when I’m with him in a quiet moment, his embrace of love is sufficient to sustain me. He takes me in His arms, holds me tight, and sings over me. It is beautiful indeed to experience his peace and be confident, if just for that moment…He is all I need.

It is funny you know; I long to be loved and needed, but so does Jesus. He longs to be needed and loved by me and also by you. Really, fellowship with Him is what God created us for in the first place. God was lonely and desired relationship. So I guess it shouldn’t surprise me when I crave the desire. God has craved for the same thing from us for a very long time.

All I know…when I take the time to love on Jesus and just sit awhile with him, it brings a smile upon my face. And you know what…God smiles back and is well pleased with His child.

"Come near to God and He will come near to you..."

~James 4:8

God's Creation

So thankful for the home God has given us!

Even amidst the shadows He reaches to comfort our soul.

His beauty peeks at us all day long. If only we choose to see it.

His beauty blooms all around.

I am thankful this day for picking up my camara this morning and shooting these beautiful shots. God surrounds us everyday with his love. We just need to choose to see it. Please take the time to see it today! God's blessing on all of you today!